Overview

Rwanda Inspectorate, Competition and Consumer Protection Authority (RICA) was established by the Law Nº 31/2017 OF 25/07/2017 to carry out inspection of quality and standards conformity and promote healthy competition in the economy by prohibiting unfair business practices as well ensuring consumers protection.

Email:
info@rica.gov.rw

Address:
KK 8, Av 64, Kicukiro (Safari Center House)

Twitter::
@InspectorateRw

VISION

We strive to be internationally reputed as a reliable and customer-focused provider of inspection services that deliver quality and confidence for safeguard of businesses and consumer protection.

MISSION

promotion of trade through scientific evidence - based decision making and fair professional judgement in order to ensure sustainable business development as well as protection of plant & animal health and consumer rights.

PARTNERS

    • Ministry of Trade & Industry (MINICOM)
    • Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI)
    • Rwanda Development Board (RDB)
    • Rwanda Cooperative Agency (RCA) 
    • National Agriculture Development Export Board (NAEB)
    • Rwanda Agricultural and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB)
    • Rwanda Standards Board (RSB)
    • Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority (Rwanda FDA)
    • Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA)
    • National Industrial Research and Development Agency (NIRDA)
    • Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) 
    • Rwanda National Police (RNP) 
    • Rwanda Consumer’s Rights Protection Organization (ADECOR)
    • Trade Mark Africa (TMA)
    • NPPO
    • AGRA

CORE VALUES

  • Customer focus: We are committed to attain the highest standards in service delivery by caring and paying attention to individual customer expectations without compromising regulations;

  • Integrity: We serve in a transparent manner, being open to constructive criticism and accountable to every decision made;

  • Impartiality: We provide our legal mandate with objectivity, fairness and without bias;

  • Efficiency: We are committed to empower both business community and consumers by effectively communicating regulations requirements and consumer rights;

  • Innovation: We are committed to be a learning organization that embraces change and continuously promotes creativity in its business processes.

Antoinette MBABAZI,MSc.

Acting Director General

Antoinette MBABAZI,MSc.


Acting Director General, Rwanda Inspectorate, Competition and Consumer Protection Authority (RICA)

Antoinette MBABAZI is an experienced professional in food quality management and regulatory systems, with over 19 years of service in Rwanda’s national quality institutions. She currently holds the position of Acting Director General at the Rwanda Inspectorate, Competition and Consumer Protection Authority (RICA), a role she assumed in October 2024.

Since joining RICA in 2020, Ms. MBABAZI has served in several key leadership roles, including Acting Head of the Department of Registration, Licensing and Enforcement at the same time Acting Director of Finance. Her contributions were instrumental in establishing and operationalizing RICA's core Operations during its formative years.

Before her tenure at RICA, she worked at Rwanda Bureau of Standards (current Rwanda standards Board) from 2006 to 2020, where she held progressive roles such as National Certification Division Manager, Certification Officer, and Head of Import and Industry Inspection Sections. Under her leadership, the National Certification Division achieved international accreditation for its Food Safety Certification systems by the Dutch Accreditation Council(RvA).

Ms. MBABAZI holds a Master’s degree in Food Quality Management from Wageningen University and Research (WUR) in the Netherlands and a Bachelor’s degree in Food Science and Technology from the Kigali Institute of Science and Technology(KIST).

She also served as the Chairperson of the RICA Anti-Corruption Committee and is highly regarded for her dedication to quality assurance and upholding institutional integrity. During this time, she also contributed to the work of the Competition and Consumer Protection Services.

MUTONI MARGARET

EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR 2024-2025

MUTONI MARGARET is a trained textile and polymers professional with a strong academic background in both engineering and management. She holds a Bachelor’s degree of Science in Textile Engineering from Busitema University, Uganda, and a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) in Project Management from the University of Lay Adventists Rwanda.
She is currently serving as a Polymers and Textiles Inspector and Acting Planning Officer, where she applies her technical expertise alongside strategic planning and project management skills to support the institution’s mission.